A 43 year old man and his 24 year old son have both been charged with animal cruelty offences after their severely underweight dog was left to stray, ending up in a local pound.
The 3 year old tan and white Staffordshire Bull Terrier was reported to the RSPCA by City of Cockburn staff on 15 May 2021. They described him as 'incredibly emaciated' with no microchip or collar.
Two days after the report was made, the 43 year old man contacted the pound, saying the dog was his son's. RSPCA inspectors went to the pound where the man and his son told them they had been feeding the dog but he just didn't put on weight.
The 24 year old man said he owned the dog. The older man said that he and his son shared a house in Hamilton Hill and that the dog had lived there since he was a puppy.
Given the condition of the dog, the RSPCA inspectors seized him and took him to the Animal Care Centre in Malaga.
A vet examination revealed the dog was emaciated with his ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible. He had no palpable fat and a generalised loss of muscle mass.
The dog was started on a proper diet and in just one month his body weight had increased by 25 per cent, going from 24 kilos to 31 kilos—his ideal healthy weight.
The pair have both been charged under section 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002—that is not providing the dog with sufficient food.
They will appear in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on 27 August 2021.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or online here.
